Saturday, May 19, 2012

Poltergeist (1982)

"They're here!" Steve Freeling and his family move in to a beautiful new neighborhood, only to find that their home is infested with evil spirits in the 1980's Horror classic POLTERGEIST! POLTERGEIST presents an image of the ideal American family turned upside down by the supernatural forces at work within their home, but one who manages to find strength in one another in order to overcome all obstacles. The film is perfectly cast as such, with JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson playing the loving, down-to-earth parents who live in a quiet California suburb with their three kids (and Golden Retriever, of course). We instantly relate to them because they are heartfelt and real, but also because they are imperfect just like the rest of us. These small town vibes can largely be attributed to the involvement of writer/producer Steven Spielberg, who has long been rumored to have taken over the director's chair while filming with TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE creator Tobe Hooper. Using state-of-the-art technology from Industrial Light and Magic, the spirits in POLTERGEIST were brought to life on screen unlike anything audiences had ever experienced in the past. The scares are softened by the film's light-hearted mood and Jerry Goldsmith's gentle score, making it enjoyable for all ages despite a few startling moments. Although her life was tragically cut short, POLTERGEIST will forever hold the legacy of Heather O'Rourke intact thanks to her endearing performance as Carol Anne Freeling, the family's youngest daughter. Carol Anne has since become one of the most recognizable characters within the genre, while POLTERGEIST is commonly cited as being one of the greatest Horror movies of all-time.

Join the Fight!

Buy ILHM Gear

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”